Katie Falkenberg

Katie Falkenberg is a staff photographer at the Los Angeles Times. Raised in Ohio, Falkenberg began her career in Washington, DC, covering the White House and Capitol Hill as a freelance photographer. Prior to joining the staff of the Los Angeles Times, she was a staff photographer at the Washington Times, where she began to focus on documenting contemporary issues in America. Her passion is working on issue-related projects, and she considers it a great privilege and responsibility to tell the stories of people who may not have a chance to be heard otherwise.

Falkenberg was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy award for Domestic Photography, the Hillman Prize in Photojournalism, the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism for Short Form Video, and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi award for Feature Photography, for her work documenting three southern California families struggling from the lasting effects of the recession. Her photography and multimedia work also have been recognized by Pictures of the Year International, the White House News Photographers Association, and the National Press Photographers Association. Her short film, Uninsured in the Mississippi Delta, won the Human Rights award at the Media That Matters film festival.

Falkenberg graduated from Warren Wilson College in 2003 with a degree in studio art.

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Going into college, I had many interests and ideas about what I
wanted to major in, but I was unsure which major I was the most
passionate about. I also was uncertain what career I wanted to pursue
after graduating.

Studying at Warren Wilson and attending a liberal arts college
allowed me to explore all of my interests and beyond. With class
requirements in different areas of study, I also discovered new
territories that I would become extremely passionate about, such as
sustainable agriculture and environmental studies.

By having the opportunity to experience a wide range of studies, I
was able to discover my true passion for visual arts and my desire to
pursue a career in that field. Through various art classes I was able to
hone my artistic skills and develop my personal vision. Learning and
exploring other areas of study as well has been invaluable for my
career. This combination enhanced the foundation of my job as a
photojournalist.

A liberal arts education prepared me for, and raised my desire for, seeking out and shedding light on important issues and stories—whether they are in my community or overseas.

Attending a liberal arts school not only allowed me to discover and
develop my passion, but it also prepared me for my particular job in
ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. By being able to enroll in
such a wide range of classes, I was exposed to an incredible amount of
knowledge and topics, and it made me more curious about the world around
me. This has helped me immensely in my job as a photojournalist; it has
made me more aware and conscious of different stories to document and
report. In my career I have worked on human interest stories as well as
stories about agriculture, the environment, health care, and the
economy. A broad course of study encouraged the development of a broader
world view.

Part of Warren Wilson College’s motto is that one person has the
ability to change the world. Whether it was through classes, community
events, or through the volunteer and work aspects of the educational
triad, that belief and idea was cultivated in me on a daily basis during
my four years there. My desire to make a difference in the world was
nurtured there, and it has only gotten stronger with the passage of
time. Some of the greatest responsibilities we have as photojournalists
are to raise awareness about unknown issues, tell the stories of people
who may not have a chance to be heard otherwise, create understanding
across cultural lines, spark dialogue and perhaps action for change that
might be needed, all through our photographs. A liberal arts education
prepared me for, and raised my desire for, seeking out and shedding
light on important issues and stories—whether they are in my community
or overseas.

I can honestly say that attending Warren Wilson College and
receiving a liberal arts education made me into the person I am
today—both personally and professionally.